They do exist – I’m in one – but they are hard to find, especially for younger developers. I do “keep up”, but in my field, it’s new algorithms, not the hot scripting language du jour and yet another round of toolchain trivia.

Yes I got a flexible schedule, but work from home was very limited and looked down upon. Also, working when you want, when you have to work 60 hours a week and another 20 studying to keep up, doesn’t work for me.

Five weeks of vacation? I think this is the benefit of working at a company for 20 years, not so much being a software engineer. ESPP, unlimited sick days, and 401Ks are related to many other jobs as well.

I don’t have hard ranges on the classes, so it’s hard to determine where upper middle becomes upper. I’m sure everyone has their own criteria.

There is a bright side to software engineering work if you are good, like what you do and find the right place to work.
1. Flexible schedules. Nobody cares when you come and go, you can work from home, work more hours when you are busy, less when you are not. In my company you can also take time off for “personal business”, no question asked, always could even 20 years ago. The emphasis is on job done and not on hours spent doing it. This isn’t the case in every company’s division, but it is true in most. This type of arrangement is more likely with software engineering than many other profession. If you have your own business, it depends on a business, sometimes you just have to be there.

2. Vacation. I have 5 weeks paid vacation + 3 personal choice holidays. Yes, I know it is a bit unusual; my company changed the policy of giving 5 weeks at 20s anniversary a few years ago, new people get 3 weeks right away (we got 2), 4 weeks at 10th anniversary and that’s it. But even 4 weeks is more than many people have. If you have your own business, you often need to be there to manage it.

3. Unlimited number of sick days. I know this is a bit unusual even in software engineering, but some companies have it.

4. Ability to get a little extra money by patenting. I have a friend who gets additional 20K just in patent awards. I am not nearly that good, but I usually do manage a few thousand.

5. Little fringe benefits like company match for 401K, ESPP (not as good now as it used to be, so I stopped participating). Little things like free entrance to most NYC museums for myself and a bunch of guests because my company donates to arts.

Most of the time I like being a software engineer. These days I spend less than 50% of my time coding. I miss it – it is so much simpler than what I do.

Talking about upper middle class vs upper class. Where would you draw the line between those?

You forgot to mention that I’m practice Wii Tennis. There should be a tour or something ;-)

1) If you have money, you don’t have to worry about it.

2) Money can give you the freedom to pursue your passions.

3) Money can buy you time with friends and family.

His purpose was to drive home the message that you should save now for the rewards that come later, but you could read it as “What are the benefits of being upper class?”

Just my 2 cents.

Mr. Stupid

I am really gonna save up and set up my won consulting firm maybe in 5 years. Gotta hand it to you guys for findings ways to be working and finding lots of ways to be happy with your love ones! Thanks.

http://www.articlearchive.com

How times have changed…

I hear you on the tech work. My dad often relaxes in the evening with books or magazines on the latest tools and technologies.